Sooty Lipocosmodes Moth
Common NameSooty Lipocosmodes Moth
Scientific NameLipocosmodes fuliginosalis
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilySpilomelinae
Wingspan (mm)15
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, dark brown, cream
HabitatDeciduous forests, woodlands, areas with leaf litter
Geographic RangeEastern North America (from Quebec and Ontario south to Florida and west to Texas)
Host Plantsdetritus, mosses, fungi
Flight PeriodMay to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; larvae are thought to feed on detritus, mosses, or fungi, rather than specific vascular plants.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, the distinctive 'sooty' mottled brown and cream coloration, and its typical resting posture with wings held somewhat tent-like, often revealing a prominent head tuft.
Description
A small moth characterized by its mottled dark brown and cream-colored wings, giving it a 'sooty' or dusty appearance, often with a prominent tuft of scales on its head.
